When doing my Bronze award with friends from St John Ambulance, I never would have imagined that 25 years later I'd be fundraising for the DofE to support more young people have access to the skills and experiences that have shaped who I am today.

I am incredibly grateful to the vision and commitment of Prince Philip in starting a programme for young people which not only encourages you to step out of your comfort zone to test yourself in any given situation, but also to develop deeper interests in activities and volunteering that require time and dedication.

I feel incredibly privileged to have met HRH first when I received my Gold Award in 1998 and secondly when I joined the staff team in 2017. His legacy lives on in all of us who will continue to ensure that the Award is available for all.